Fertility regulation in women with different religious
beliefs in R. Macedonia
D. Tanturovski1, M. Stojovski1, E. Milanova1, Z.
Palchevski1, M. Tanturovski3, F. Besimi2, N. Rufati2
1Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Skopje, Macedonia, FYR,
2Medical Center, Tetovo, Macedonia, FYR, 3Medical Faculty, Skopje, Macedonia,
FYR
Objective The purpose of the study was to determine if
there are any differences in the modalities of fertility regulation between
women with different religious beliefs.
Design and methods The prospective, randomised,
unselected interview included 99 patients. The interview was conducted using a
specially prepared questionnaire. The significance of the results was calculated
using the Chi-square test.
Results The patients were divided in two groups: Group I
was composed of 49 (49.5%) patients that were orthodox Christians and Group II
was composed of 50 (50.5%) patients that were Muslims. The methods of
contraception most frequently used up to the moment of the interview were:
coitus interruptus in 41 (83.7%) of the patients in group I and 44 (88%) of the
patients in group II and condoms in 7 (14.3%) of the patients in group I and 2
(4%) of the patients in group II. When asked what would they want to use in the
future, 35 (71.4%) of the patients in group I and 47 (94%) of the patients in
group II chose coitus interruptus as their primary method of contraception,
while 12 (24.5%) of the patients in group I and 1 (2%) of the patients in group
II opted for the use of condoms. When making this decision, the family or
religion influenced none of the orthodox patients, while 4 (8%) and 6 (12%) of
Muslim patients were heavily influenced by the family or religion, respectively.
The differences between the groups concerning the preferred method of
contraception and the influence of the family and religion over the decision
were shown to be statistically significant (p<0.05).
Conclusion Our research showed that even though it was
conducted on a coherent group on a narrow geographical space, there are certain
differences in the modalities of fertility regulation. The key factor is the
dominant influence of religion and family over the decision for contraception
use in Muslim women, while the orthodox women make this decision independent of
both the family and the church.